Fire-protector.



UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIon.

BENJMAN F. METZ, OF LQWBY CITY, MISSOURI.

FIRE-PROTECTOR.-

I all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJMAN F. METZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Low r'y City, in the county of St. Clair and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Protectors,of which prised of posts and panels connected by pe' culiar hinged connections 1n such" a manner as to admit of the protector being reduced to a compact bundle for storing or'shipping, the special form of the connections between the parts being also advantageous in that the same are not likely to become-separated accidentally or otherwise under ordinary conditions. c

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which showing the hinge or cou-pling-lugs for attachment of the panels thereto. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the hinges or couplings.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated I in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The protector is shown applied to a stove which is designed to be arranged within a room, apartment, or other place so as to be exposed upon all sides.

It is to be understood that the invention is designed to be applied to any form of heater.

- The protector is in the form of an inclosure Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October 10,1904. Serial n5. 227,94.4..

Patented Dec. 5, 1905.

and comprises a pluralityof posts 1 and panels 2, the latter being of lattice-work of open construction, so as not to obstruct the passage of the heat or the view of the stove. Each of the panels preferably consists of a metal frame and wire screening, the meshes of the latter being of any suitable design and size according to the caprice of the designer. These panels are arranged at a given distance from the stove and primarily serve to prevent the Iperson or clothing comingin contact therewit 1.

The posts l are headed to present an ornan mental finish and are formed with feet 3, which are apertureol to receivescrews or like fas'tenings for attaching the protector to the floor. Lugs 4 project from the sides of the posts and are set quarteringto accommodate the position of adjacent panels when the protector is set up. Each lug is formed with a vertical pintle-opening 5,.a radial slot 6 at its upper endextending from the opening 5, and a horizontal approximately semicircular recess 7 in the side thereof, said slot 6 and recess 7 being in communication with each other and with the pintle-opening, asindicated' most clearly in Fig. 5. Each post is provided with at least two sets of lugs at different elevations, one set being near the upper endof the post and the other set being located some distance from the foot of the post. Each of the panels is provided with complemental hinge or coupling members 8 in position for cooperation with the matching lugs and post. Each pintle member 8 is L-shaped, and the vertical portion 9 thereof enters the opening 5, and the horizontal portion 10 is received inan end portion of the recess 7, so as to come beneath an overhanging portion 11 of the lug 4 and prevent vertical displacementof the panel, even thoughthe same should receive an upward blow or thrust sufficient to disconnect an ordinary slip-joint.= The overhanging portions 11 are formed at opposite sides of the slot 6, and the portions 10 of the pintles 8 may of course enter the space beneath either partll, so that when the protector is collapsed the sides thereof when folded together may have interlocking connection with the members 4:, though said sides'are in approximately paralleling relation. (Note construction ofthe portions 7 as shown in Fig. 4.)

The inc'losure may be of any form and comprise, any number of posts and panels. .One of the panels is mounted soas to swing and constitutes a door or gate and is arranged opposite to the front of the stove to admit of access being readily had to the stove for supplying fuel, removing the ashes, or for any other purpose. The swinging panel or gate is provided with hinge members at one edge and is provided at the opposite edge with a catch 12 of any formation for securing the gate when closed, said catch engaging with a suitable stop at the side of the post facing the opening closed by means of the gate. The lower edges of the panels are arranged some distance from the floor, thereby permitting the space beneath the stove to be reached for sweeping.

When the protector is not required for immediate use, as during warm weather, when the stove is removed, it may be taken apart and the panels placed one upon the other and the'posts arranged side by side, so as to form a compact bundle about as indicated in Fig. 3. When setting up or taking down the protector, it is necessary that the posts and pan els be returned to a position to cause the portions of the pintle members 4 to register with the radial slots 6, so that the parts may either be separated or connected by a slipjoint. When the protector is set up, the arms lO-are out of register with the slots 6 and engage under the overhanging part 11. The

gate or swinging panel when closed or when open to its limit has the portions 10 of its hinge members engaged under the overhanging parts 11. When the gate is turned to an intermediate position, the portions 10 register with the slots 6, and the gate may belit'ted from the post or applied thereto, as will be readily comprehended.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is A protector embodying-the panels 2, the corner-posts 1 and a hinged connection between the posts and the panels embodying a lug projecting from the side of each post and provided with the vertical pintle-opening 5, said lug having the radial slot 6 at its upper extremity extending from the openings 5, the lug also having the recess 7 in a side thereof and in communication with the pintle-opening also, and the L-shaped pintle member 8 projecting from the panels and received in the pintle-opening 5 of the lug 4 aforesaid, the recess 7 of said lug forming overhanging portions 11 to engage over the pintle member 8 and prevent displacement of the latter.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJMAN F. METZ. ljL. s] Witnesses:

W. P. CAUDLE, J. O. PENN. 

